Staring Into The Barrel Poem by Rachel Henley

Here I stand,
On legs that tremble with pain.
But with open, ready arms.
Ready for lifes cruel aim.
Your lies will not be my shackles,
Your venom wont seep into my veins.
Just because I am down,
Does not mean that I will not rise again.

If my friends shoot me,
If my lover shoots me,
If my family hold the gun.
No, not even while I'm staring into the barrel.
Will I ever be truly done.
I'm not heroically brave,
But I won't ever run.
Even if life beats down on me,
Like a cruel desert sun.

You can challenge the teachers,
Challenge those who preach,
Challenge those who are in control,
But never challenge those,
Who are fierce and weak.
Governments stand,
Corporations Stand,
Enemies that stand tall to the skies.
But only the people can ever truly rise.